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BJP attacks Akhilesh regime's failures, silent on 'love jihad'

Vrindavan, Aug 24 IANS | 11 months ago

The BJP Sunday sharply attacked Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party on law and order including crimes against women, "partisan policy of appeasement" and "extremely grim state" of governance as it asserted it would come to power in the state after the next polls.

A political resolution adopted at the end of the two-day meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's state executive, however, did not mention "love jihad" - a term coined by Hindu groups for alleged efforts by young Muslims reportedly target non-Muslim girls for conversion to Islam by feigning love - though many leaders kept talking about it and accusing the state government of not heeding the alarming trend.

It, however, termed it a matter of grave concern that women of a community were being targeted for sexual assaults by a particular section that had been the beneficiary of the state government's appeasement policy

Meanwhile, privately some leaders were unhappy with the controversy raised by the electronic media on "love jihad", which they felt reduced the seriousness and political focus of the conclave. Those who were hoping that the political resolution would talk about it were disappointed, as leaders were seen avoiding discussion on it.

Addressing the concluding session -- instead of union Home Minister Rajnath Singh as originally scheduled, BJP's national secretary, organisational affairs, Ram Lal urged the party workers to gear up for the coming assembly bypolls and ensure the victory of the party candidates to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Booth-level workers should be galvanised and there should be continuous interaction between leaders and party activists, he said.

"We believe in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (everyone's support, everyone's development)," said Ram Lal, adding that the BJP was determined to form the new government in the state.

"Right now, one does not know whether one chief minister or several chief ministers or a whole family is running the state," he said, in an attack on perceived multiple power-centres in the state government and party.

The political resolution made a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party for "acting in a prejudiced and partisan manner to avenge its crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls" and said the rule of law was totally finished "as the official machinery including police were puppets in the hands of the Samajwadi Party leaders".

The two-day meet lost some of its sheen after the absence of two top leaders - party president Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

Talking to IANS, state party president Laxmikant Bajpayi said: "The chief focus of the two-day meet was on the deteriorating law and order situation in UP, the power crisis, and the raw deal to farmers. BJP is now totally geared to form the government in the state and all our workers are being mobilised to achieve that goal."

He said "love jihad" did remain an area of concern but "we are worried about the safety and welfare of all women". "To stop crimes and injustices against women, our party will sensitise and mobilise the whole society. People will themselves deal with this problem," he said.

BJP's Braj Prant president Purushottam Khandelwal told IANS that "from the land of Sri Krishna-Radha, we have pledged to fight against injustices perpetrated on women by a section under patronage of the ruling party".

"From roads to parliament, we will fight against this alarming trend. It is wrong to equate love with rape, as the chief minister is trying to do. Sexual crimes against women by anyone should not be tolerated on basis of religion or community."